By OBAKENG MAJE
The criminal case has been initiated against the former Director-General of the North West Provincial Government (NWPG). This comes after the North West Provincial Government failed to recover the financial misconduct amounting to R75 889 349.70.
According to the Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration (DPSA), three departments, Office of the Premier, Department of Health and Education were fingered in wrongdoings in a damning report.
The Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration chairperson, Tyotyo James said: “On 2 June 2021, the committee received a presentation from the Public Service Commission (PSC) on financial misconduct in the public service in the 2019/2020 financial year.
“The PSC report flagged the State Security Agency (SSA) and the North West provincial departments of the Office of the Premier, Education, and Health as having failed to submit records on financial misconduct.”
James said they had written letters to the SSA and the North West province has submitted a consolidated presentation. He said the types of misconduct include fraud and financial misconduct, contravention of Section 195 of the constitution, supply chain management (SCM) prescripts, and the Division of Revenue Act, and fraud and contravention of SCM processes.
“The committee noted from the presentation that the amount involved is R75 889 349.70. We are concerned about the amount that may not be recovered amounting to R45 889 349.70 and asked why the province could not recover it.
The committee heard that criminal proceedings were initiated against one employee, a former Director-General. We have recorded our dissatisfaction that nothing has been recovered as yet, but noted that a preservation order for R30 000 000 has been obtained,” said James.
The province also reported that nine disciplinary cases stem from 2019/20 to 20/21 is still pending.
He further said the committee also noted the progress made by the Department of Public Service and Administration on the establishment of the PAEIDTAU. James added that in March 2020, the unit was formally established as part of the DPSA’s macro-restructuring process and incubated within it.
“The committee welcomed this development and approval of the Lifestyle Audit Guideline and supports the implementation of lifestyle audits in the public service.
The DPSA also briefed the committee on the progress made thus far with the establishment of PAEIDTAU.
“The committee also considered and adopted the Committee Report on Ease of Doing Business Bill. The majority of the committee further adopted the report on the Ease of Doing Business Bill, with the exception of the Democratic Alliance, which had a dissenting view,” he said.
James said the overall report was adopted by the committee and the minutes of the meeting will record the objection by the opposition.
The Guardian 